About Healthy Kids: In the News
United Way benefits from its new focus
Published on May 28, 2005
© 2005 - The Press Democrat
Byline: Michael A. Kasper
Page: B7
Column: Close to Home
Over the years, hundreds of thousands of North Bay residents have contributed to the United Way. Through employee and business contributions, United Way of Sonoma-Mendocino-Lake has directed dollars to hundreds of local causes.
But several years ago, the United Way realized that this scatter-shot approach to funding wasn't the most effective way to spend limited dollars. In 2003, the organization made a major strategic change, and began to focus money in key areas of the community -- youth, families and seniors -- where we felt it could make the greatest difference.
>As the CEO and president of United Way of Sonoma-Mendocino-Lake, I can say that this focused approach is making a difference. I can also say that there are some clear challenges as we continue on this journey.
First, the successes:
* Through United Way's Community Impact Fund, volunteers funded 22 programs with an average grant of $72,000 versus our previous model of that resulted in 92 programs receiving an average grant of $10,000.
* In addition, our first Venture Fund grant of $100,000 went to the Mary and Jose Tamayo House for youth who have aged out of the foster care system. It is the first facility of its kind in Sonoma County and was urgently needed.
* We added another focus area, "resolving crisis," to the original three. The goal of this program is to make measurable differences in programs that provide emergency food and shelter, transitional and permanent, supportive housing.
* We have also begun advocacy work with the Californians for Healthy Kids, both at the county and state level. The California Endowment provided a grant to 18 United Ways in California for the objective to provide affordable health insurance to all children from birth to 17 years in our state.
The financial strength of the organization also improved dramatically this past year as we reduced operating expenses by $246,000, or 18 percent. Through these cuts and the sale of our building, we now have reserves of $843,000 -- a big change from a couple of years ago when our reserves had been depleted to zero due to the economic downturn.
There are still some notable challenges ahead. The most obvious is a 3 percent drop in revenue over the past five years. In comparison to other United Ways and nonprofits in general, this performance is quite good. However, there are some forces -- corporate mergers where local control is lost, manufacturing positions moving offshore and a jobless recovery -- that are eroding our workplace giving program. The United Way is successfully looking to other sources of revenue, including major donors.
But perhaps the greatest challenge that faces the organization is our transition from a fund raiser/distributor of your money to an organization that has an actual impact on the social health of the community. We are working to change a long established "brand" name to something new, which includes what we call "convening and advocating."
Our ability to convene and to advocate as a partner with business, government and nonprofits will be critical to making lasting systemic change in our community. Whether it's gang crime, children's health care, senior independence, homelessness or affordable housing -- the key will be to mobilize a focused community approach and to reverse long-term, downward trends.
United Way has the brand name, leadership, volunteers and business partnerships to influence lasting changes in our community and ultimately improve lives. The organization thanks all of you for your incredible contributions and looks forward to working with you to make these important changes in our community. We can change lives by working together and that is what really matters.
Michael A. Kasper is a Santa Rosa resident and the CEO and president of the United Way of Sonoma-Mendocino-Lake.